Sound Question

kinkstr

heres my problem, ive just recently got a headset to use while im playing games online, at the moment i have my pc connected to my stereo speakers and if i want to use the headset i have to plug out the connection to my stereo on my soundcard(soundblaster digital 5.1), theres a headphone and mic jack on the front of my case(which isnt connected properely yet) that plugs into the motherboard, is there a way i can have them both connected at the same time?

stevenmu

Places like Peats and Maplins should have headphone splitters, they're little adaptors that plug into a socket and let you plug in two sets of headphones, or in this case your headphones and speakers. It might not work though, depends on what exactly is output on the socket you'll plug into, as they'll only handle two channels (i.e. left and right). If there's another channel on the socket, such as centre, that could be lost. I think though with 5.1 you get front left/right on one socket (which you'd plug your splitter into), rear left/right on another and bass/centre on the 3rd, which should work.

kinkstr

thanx for the quick response steve, is this what you mean?

stevenmu

That looks like it'd do it, the one I was thinking of is like a tiny little box with a jack on one side and 2 sockets on the other, I think they're essentially the same thing though.

Chalk

youll get sound though the speakers and the headset at the same time no matter what way yout that up.

maybe look at a usb headset,
like the socom one for ps2,
then the speakers will be separate from the headset

stevenmu

Yeah, I'm assuming that turning the speakers off whenever you're using the headphones is ok, otherwise you'll need something like Chalk is suggesting.

kinkstr

i wouldnt have the speakers and the headset switched on at the same time, ill have a look in the shops at the weekend for one, ive just seen them on gadgetstore.ie for just under a fiver but ive never bought anything form them before, anyone have any experience of them or can anyone reccomend another online supplier

mordeith

I have one of those headphone splitters and tried to use it to power my speakers (5.1) and a pair of headphones. It didn't work. While sound was transmitted to the headphones the sound to the speakers was only coming from the woofer and one of the satellite speakers. I still end having to plug and unplug the sockets.